Score board or bulletin.



J. W. BAKER.

SCORE BOARD 0R BULLETIN.

APPLIUATION FILED DEC 2a, 1908.

1,119,388. Patented Dec.1,1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

B H I CA El] awe whoa adfa/ fln/i wkerf J. W. BAKER.

SCORE BOARD 0R BULLETIN.

APPLIGATION rum) nnc 28,1908.

1,119,388. Patented Dec.1,191L

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. W. BAKER.

SGORE BOARD OR BULLETIN.

APPLICATION FILED D110 2a, 1908.

Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

3 BHBET8-SHEET 3.

PHILADELPHIA PITTSHUHE CINCINNATI lwue/nioz Jim/11%;

s ares Parr. curios.

JOHN WALLACE BAKER, F STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIG-NOR TO IVIABEL CRANE BAKER, 0F STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT.

SCORE BOARD OR BULLETIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

Application filed December 28, 1908. Serial No. 469,627.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN WV. BAKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stamford, in the county of Fair-field and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Score Boards or Bulletins, of which the following is a specification, reference being had there in to the accompanying drawing.

The present invention relates to score boards or bulletins, and though susceptible of a variety of adaptations, is primarily designed for use in connection with keeping the score in base ball or similar games.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide improved means whereby movable indicatorsfor the score board or bulletin representative, for instance, of the contesting teams, the runs, hits, errors or the like made by each, may be readily changed during the progress of the game by an operator removed from the indicating face of the bulletin.

In the preferred construction of the invention, novel means are provided for operating all of the indicators from the rear of the bulletin, so that during the adjusting operation, the indicating surface of the board will not be obstructed.

More particularly the invention includes a face plate orboard having appropriately designated openings, in juxtaposition to which openings and to the rear of the face plate, the indicators may be quickly and accurately adjusted through the medium of operating devices arranged in compact form also to the rear of the plate, with associated retaining means for the devices.

Other improvements in the details of construction and arrangement of the parts will be pointed out in the description following,

which for a clear understanding of the invention, should be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

In the drawings is shown an embodiment of the invention for the purpose of illustration.

Fi ure l of the drawings is a front view of the score board or bulletin. Fig. 2 is a rear view with a portion of the operating mechanism exposed. Fig. 3 is a front view of the score board or bulletin with the front a of the casing removed. Fig. t is a vertical crosssection of the apparatus, and Fig. 5 IS a detail view of one ofthe operating devices showing its application to the adjusting members for the indicators.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, A represents a casing comprising prcferably a base section 1 and a super-structure 2, which latter constitutes the bulletin board proper and is provided flhc indicating mechanism proper comprises a rotatable member or members 5, one for iach of the upper series of openings, and a similar member or members 6 for the lower row of openings, the rotatable members of the two series conveniently comprising rolls having peripheral representations, as the name of the team, and numbers indicative ofscores and the like and said rolls being loosely mounted for relative rotary movement on shaft 5 and 6 connected at their respective ends in any desired manner to the sides of thecasing. These rolls 5 and-G have reduced portions or hearing grooves 7 arranged as shown and fora purpose to be described.

8 is an adjusting cord, chain, belt or similar transmission mechanism adapted to pass over the bearing groove 7, on one of said rolls, one end of the cord passing over a suitably supported grooved pulley 9 and the opposite end over a similar pulley 10 and guide wheel 11. An operating device 12 in the nature of a dowcl pin having a knob or handle is provided, the respective ends of the cord 8 being adjustably secured to said device, as through the medium of a screw member 12 carried by the operating device and threaded sockets 8 secured to the cord. When positioned, the cord 8 constitutes an endless belt in frictional engagement with the rotatable member 5, whereby the latter may be adjusted according to the ope ation of the device 12. As it becomes necessary,

the endless cord may be adjusted to regulate the friction through the medium of the screw and socket connection above described. Each of the rolls 5 are similarly operated through like arrangement of endless cords, guide wheels, etc. The indicating rolls 6 are likewise adjusted through the medium of similarly arranged and constructed cords l8, and operating devices 13, the cords obviously being shorter, and the guide pulleys lei and 15 arranged below the pulleys 10 referred to, since the rolls 6 are conveniently I To one side of the guide board is arranged a column of numerals one opposite to each transversely divided space, while upon the opposite side is a similarly arranged column of names or the equivalent indicative of the teams, and upon the upper portion of the board, one opposite each vertical column, are appropriate representations corresponding to similarly arranged representations on the front of the casing, one for each series of rolls. For the purpose of illustration, the indicating rolls 5 and 6 are designed to represent the club or team, runs, hits, and errors, the vertical columns of the guide board being of a width to accommodate one each of the cords 8 and 13.

it being understood that the indicating rolls have peripheral representations, one only of the representations of each roll being exposed at its opening in the casing at a time, the operation of the apparatus thus far described is as follows: The operator being positioned to the rear of the casing with the guide board 17 before him, grasps the operating device 12 in the club column, draws upon the cord until the operating device assumes a position in the space opposite the selected club re znesentation on the board, when the upper roll 5 adjacent the club representation on. the casing will be correspondingly adjusted to indicate through the opening said selected club. He next grasps the operating device 13 in the same vertical column and operates as before, the cord of this device being connected with the lower indicating roll adjacent the club representation on the casing. The respective operating devices 12 and 13 for the upper and lower indicating roll or rolls have di tinguishing characteristics, conveniently by painting black and white, to indicate upper and lower rolls respectively.- The contesting teams or clubs now being exposed through the proper opening in the casing, the opera for next takes the run column and so on throughout the series of columns, some of the columns having spaces for two or more sets of black and white operating devices to be used when the numerals run above 9, each roll bearing a blank space when a blank is to be exhibited at the opening and numbers preferably from 0 to 9. It will be observed that the bearing grooves 7 for .the upper and lower roll of each series are arranged in alternate relation; that is, the groove 011 one of .the upper rolls will be upon the right side of said roll and the groove on the lower roll immediately below said upper roll will be upon the left of said lower roll, whereby the cords for the respective upper and lower rolls will not contact or interfere with the operation of the other and will assume positions in the vertical spaces of the guide board in substantial alinement with the grooves. This is true throughout the series of pairs of upper and lower rolls, with this variation. It being advantageous to arrange the vertical spaces of the guide board in compact form and of approximately the same width, and the rolls indicative of the team or club being of greater length than the other rolls, means are provided for arranging the cord for the upper and lower club indicating rolls upon the same side of said rolls. To this end the groove of the upper club roll projects beyond the groove of the lower club roll, thereby spacing the respective cords carried thereby from one another and positioning them in registration with the vertical space devoted to the clubs onthe guide board.

A novel means for retaining the rolls in their adjusted positions is provided as follows: A series of apertures or recesses l7 are formed in the guide board 17, there being an aperture for each cord in every space. The operating devices 12 and 13 have extensions shaped to conform to said apertures and adapted to fit therein when at rest. Obviously, when the operating device has been properly adjusted it is only necessary to insert the extension or terminal of the same in the adjacent recess when the parts are locked in position, the recesses or apertures being spaced according to the representation on the indicating rolls forming additional means for accurately centering the representations of the indicating rolls which are being exposed. It is noted that the operating devices 12 and 1% are bodily movable by the flexing of the connected cord whereby the operating devices by a longitudinal movement maybe readily inserted and disengaged from the recesses in the guide board. As will be appreciated, the vertical column of numerals, namely, 0 to 9,

on the guide board 17 is common to each of the designated columns employing numerals, thereby doing away with the necessity of marking each space. It will also be noted that the uppermost transverse space of the guide board is utilized when it is desired to register a blank through the opening in the bulletin face, the indicating rolls, as stated, being provided with a blank space for this purpose. The blank space of the guide board is appropriately so designated by the letter 1 Provision is also made for exhibiting information common to both contesting teams, for instance, the innings, and

with this in view, advantage is taken of the space between the upper and lower series of rolls by providing a properly designated opening 18 in the bulletin face and an au.\'- iliary indicating roll 19 within the casing between the upper and lower series of rolls, said roll 19 bearing peripheral numerals to be exposed tl irough the opening 18. The indicating roll 19is conveniently carried by a rotatable sleeve 19 mounted upon a shaft 20 secured to the casing. A grooved pulley 19' is also carried by the sleeve 19' to con stitute a bearing, groove to be frictionally engaged by an adjusting cord similar in all respects to the cords 8 above described; operating devices, guide pulleys etc., "for said cord being provided as before. The guide boa rd 17 is also provided with a properly desi nated column for innings, over which the cord for the inning indicator may play.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus of the character described the combination of an indicating roll and guide wheel spaced from one another and mounted for rotatable movement, an operating cord in operative engagement with the roll and wheel, means for operating the cord including an elongated pin, an auxiliary transversely extending pin connected with the first mentioned pin and having threaded portions, and threaded coupling members on the cord to engage with the threaded portions of said transversely extending pin.

2. In an apparatus of the character described the combination of an indicating roll and guide wheel spaced from one another and mounted for rotatable movement, an endless operating cord in operative engagement with the roll and wheel, and mains for operating the cord including an elongated pin, an auxiliary transversely extending pin connectedwith the first mentioned pin, the opposite ends of said cord and the opposite ends of said transversely extending pin having adjustable coupling coi'inections, and a guide surface for the op erating device interposed between opposite stretches of the cord having a series of apertures therein, and the first mentioned pin being constructed at its inner terminal to engage said apertures, whereby the operating device is held in different positions of adj ust ment.

3. In a ball bulletin board, the combination of a front wall having a transversely extending opening, of a pair of rolls having indicating characters on the periphery thereof, the said opening being common to both rolls, and the rolls being positioned behind said front wall with one edge of the latter arranged adjacent to each other substan: tially centrally of the opening and the oppositeedge thereof which projects to the rear of said front wall luiving a peri] )heral groove, a guide surface to the rear of the front wall and connected thereto, pulleys adjacent the lower end of: said guide surface, and endless operating cords one for each wheel mounted on the groove thereof and said pulleys whereby opposite stretches of the cord pass to opposite sides of said guide surface, and operating devices connected to that stretch of the cord extending over the "face of said guide surface, whereby the indicator wheels are operable from the rear oi? the casing, and retaining means on said guide surface to be engaged by the operating devices to hold the indicators in adjl'lsted positions.

41. In a ball bulletin board, the combination of a casing, having a series of openings arranged in horizontal alinement, a rotary imlicating roll mounted adjacent to each oi. said openings, a shaft common to said rolls, and said indicating rolls having each a peripheral groove therein said casing having an auxiliary series of openings arranged in horizontal aliuement and an auxiliary set oi? indicating rolls one for each of said open inns and mounted upon a common shaft and said last mentioned rolls having peripheral grooves arranged out of vertical alincmcnt with the grooves oi the first mounted rolls, endless operating members one for each roll fitted within the groove thereof, a guide surface positioned between the opposite stretches of the operating members and having a series of apertures therein and an operating device carried by each operating member positioned to the rear of the guide surface, said operating devices being adapted to engage said apertures, and guide pulleys positioned between the upper and lower series of rolls 'lor spacing the operating members of the upper rolls from the lower rolls.

In a ball bulletin board, the combination oit' a supporting base having front and rear surfaces, the rear surface of which has a series o'i apertures in vertical alinement, a casing having Front and rear surfaces, the casing being supported directly upon said base, the casing having an opening in its front surface, a rotary indicating roll mounted within the casing and opposite said opening, a guide pulley to the rear of the indicating roll and in substantial vertical alinement with the rear surface of the base, an auxiliary guide roll in the casing arranged forwardly of the first mentioned guide roll, and a guide roll in the base adjacent the lower edge of the rear surface thereof, a flexible endless operating member engaging the indicating roll and the respective guide rolls whereby to position one stretch of the endless operating member to the rear of the base, and an operating device carried by that portion of the endless operating member to the rear of the base having an inward projection adapted to slidably engage said apertures.

6. In a ball bulletin board, the combination of an inclosing casing, the front wall of which has a series of openings for the disclosure of certain indicating data, and the front wall of said casing being otherwise free from openings, a series of indicating wheels positioned in the casing, one for each opening in the front of the casing, a stationary shaft upon which said indicating.

wheels are loosely mounted, a rotary guide member at the lower end of the casing adjacent the rear thereof, there being a guide member for each indicating wheel, and said indicating wheels and guide members having circumferential grooves, a longitudinally extending guide surface having a series of vertically spaced apertures there in and suitable indicating data opposite said apertures, and on the rear of said surface, endless operating cords positioned in the grooves of the guide wheels and indicators, and passing over opposite surfaces of said guide surfaces, and a transversely extending pin, one for each cord, secured intermediate its ends to the cord, the inner end of said pin being adapted to engage any one of said holes on the guide surface to hold the cord in adjusted position, and the opposite end of the pin terminating in an engaging handle, the said handle being operable from the rear of the apparatus and all of said operating mechanism being concealed from the view of the spectators at the front of the apparatus.

7. In a ball bulletin board, the combination of an inclosing casing, the front wall of which has aseries of openings for the disclosure of certain indicating data, and the front wall of said casing being otherwise free from openin s, a series of indicating wheels positioned in the casing, one for each opening in the front of the casing, a stationary shaft upon which said indicating wheels are loosely mounted, a rotary guide member at the lower end of the casing adjacent the rear thereof, there being a guide member for each indicating wheel, and said indicating wheels and guide members having circumferential grooves, a longitudinally extending guide surface having a series of vertically spaced apertures there in, and suitable indicating data opposite said apertures, and on the rear of said surface, endless operating, cords positioned in the grooves of the guide wheels and indicators, and passing over opposite surfaces of said guide surface, and a transversely extending pin, one for each cord,secured intermediate its ends to the cord, the inner end of said pin being adapted to engage any one of said holes on the guide surface to hold the cord in adjusted position, and the opposite end of the pin terminating in an engaging handle, the said handle being operable from the rear of the apparatus and all of said operating mechanism being concealed from the view of the spectators at the front of the apparatus, and indicating characteristics on each of said operating pins whereby the one is readily distinguishable from the other.

8. In a ball bulletin, thecombination of a casinghaving in its front wall a plurality of series of transverse openings, each series vertically spaced from one another, adapted to show therethrough indicating data, and the front wall of the casing being otherwise free from openings, transversely extending shafts one adjacent each transverse series of openings and supported adjacent the opposite ends of the casing and therewithin, a plurality of indicator wheels arranged adj acent one another and loosely supported on the upper shaft adapted to display through the upper openings, a plurality of indicating wheels loosely mounted on the lower shaft arranged adjacent to one another below the upper wheels and adapted to display through the lower openings, guide Wheels mounted on a common support adjacent the lower end of the casing, the wheels on the upper shaft having adjacent one edge thereof a circumferential groove, and the wheels on the lower shaft having adjacent that edge opposite the grooved edge of the upper wheel a circumferential groove, operatlng 'cords mounted upon the grooves of the wheels and grooves on the guide members, and operating devices for said cords, oper able from the rear of the apparatus, said operating mechanism being concealed from the front of the board.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

J OHN VVALLAOE BAKER.

Witnesses GEO. C. ALTERS, VAN Bunsen LAMB.

t'opies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). C. 

